11 App Features, Trends & Innovations In Mobile Development

Modern business reality dictates new rules of mobile application development. Here are 11 key features, trends, and innovations that are used in mobile apps: from simplicity in design to mobile augmented reality and involvement of data science and machine learning to build smarter software products that can learn everything about your customers. We will illustrate these points with lots of comprehensive cases from our own experience.

11 app features, trends and innovations you don't want to miss

while evolving your mobile software product

#1 • Simplicity in design

To quote Steve Jobs, "Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works." This statement isn't likely to change anytime soon. However complex the logic is, if it's presented in a simple way, with easy-to-use means of navigation, it will be appreciated by users. Read our guide to stages of UI/UX design; it describes the workflow and principles that we use to create and deliver mobile apps for our clients.

#2 • Compliance with GDPR standards

General Data Protection Regulation is a new buzzword in the world of tech trends. This regulation aims to protect the personal data of all European Union residents on a legal level. Its implementation does not require additional legislation in EU member states. Therefore, all software that stores and processes personal data of users must be created with privacy and security by design, in order to be fully compliant with the well-defined requirements. Particular app features and solutions depend on the project. Here is all you need to know about GDPR.

#4 • Applied Data Science & Machine Learning

Data Science has already found its way to a number of business spheres. Here is our case study of building and incorporating Data Science models into a complex ERP system—a great example of retail software development—which makes demand predictions and precise targeting to increase sales.

#6 • Cross-platform coverage

When it comes to mobile development, there are two essential platforms, and you know their names. It's worth noting that modern cross-platform app development frameworks—including Angular Native, which provides native performance and high level of code sharing—have become cost-saving solutions for the proof of concept stage, enabling early market entry for mobile apps.

#7 • Performance is the key

Your mobile application must launch quickly for the first time and never keep users waiting since that very moment. At early stages, it's all about the correct choice of tech stack. After the release, continuous optimization is a must, and the high performance of your app will be verified by quality assurance on an ongoing basis.

#8 • Security matters

This characteristic is vital to specialized app development in such industries as HIPAA-protected healthcare and Android-based mobile device management. There, data confidentiality is protected on the legal level. Provision of data security is also one of the most discussed IoT trends—and the expertise of our team goes so far as to build secure customizations of Android OS and bundles of secure communication products.

#9 • Integration with bigger ecosystems

A mobile app is often just a part of a bigger ecosystem. For example, our team has several examples of IoT development products that seamlessly comprise hardware and software. Here is one of our most curious examples — CUJO, a smart firewall.

#10 • Interoperability with modern connectivity standards

Our team can suggest modern technologies, standards, and protocols to ensure the required interoperability of your mobile app. For a nice example, check our experience with the Bluetooth Low Energy connection protocol and a recent automotive IoT case study.

#11 • Focus on business-driven solutions

Any successful software product works solve a particular problem of end users and helps you achieve your particular business goals. That's the point of mobile development. That's the point of all the trends around here. It starts with startup canvases—essential artifacts for emerging software products—and comes into bloom with happy users.

We hope that our insights have been helpful. That said, feel free to contact us with your next project—and we'll be glad to answer any questions you might have!